NHS Lanarkshire have announced today that all young people waiting for a first assessment with a clinician from Lanarkshire’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) will be offered a first appointment in the coming weeks.
The CAMHS team will be making contact by phone meaning people are being asked to keep an eye out for a call from an 0800 number.
Where possible, appointments will take place the week after they are scheduled via video or phone calls.
Appointments will be offered from Monday to Friday as well as Saturdays and Sundays between 9am-1pm.
The move comes ahead of a new £1.5 million CAMHS specialist centre opening soon in Hamilton
The new outpatient facility will treat young people under the age of 18 years’ old who are experiencing mental health issues.
MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson said: “This announcement is welcome news and will offer some comfort to families across Lanarkshire who haven’t yet been seen by the CAMHS department.
“It is imperative that the amount of time young people in Lanarkshire are having to wait for an initial assessment is reduced but the health board must also have a plan in place for follow-up appointments.
“I am pleased that NHS Lanarkshire has reacted quickly, following my letter to the Chief Executive Heather Knox on behalf of concerned families earlier this month, and taken decisive action.
“With the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly in children, thankfully improving the Scottish Government must do more to support health boards like Lanarkshire deal with an increase in demand”.
